Art Gartenlaub — native Maplewoodian, South Orange-Maplewood School District graduate, VFW commander, musician, community volunteer and former candidate for Township Committee — passed away on July 8 after valiantly battling congestive heart failure and other illnesses the last few years of his life.

Art’s official obituary has not been posted yet. But we wanted to inform the community of his passing as we watch for information about services. As you will see from Art’s old TC candidate statement below, we’ve barely touched on the many roles he played in Maplewood and the many contributions he made.

I met Art and his wife Willie at the annual Veterans Day observance at Maplewood Town Hall in 2010. Willie sang (beautifully) and Art accompanied her (also beautifully) on piano. Art was filling another role at the event as well — that of veteran and commander of VFW Post 10120. Willie was the feisty, outspoken one and Art was adoring and sweet (my impression). I looked forward to seeing them at the remembrance for several years following.

In recent years, the Gartenlaubs moved to Brick, but maintained their deep Maplewood ties. Via Facebook, Willie kept everyone apprised of Art’s health challenges and progress. In late 2016/early 2017, Art was desperately ill and lost the lower portion of his right leg to MRSA — but recovered. His wry humor came through in one Facebook post where he used his prosthetic limb as a stand for a lampshade.

When Art was very ill 20 months ago, I messaged Willie about doing a story on him. I regret not doing one then. I hope to post and write more about Art shortly. He deserves it.

Here is Art’s candidate statement from June 2012, when he ran for Maplewood Township Committee:

As a fiscal conservative, I recognize that the Township Committee is under enormous pressure to meet community needs in addition to meeting the communities’ increased financial burdens; however, although I agree with close to 90% of the township committee’s decisions, it is the other 10% of decisions that might benefit the township’s taxpayers from another and possibly creative viewpoint. The benefit would not come from a political perspective (as I’ve been quoted as having said, in the past, “there is no Republican or Democratic way to fill a pothole”), but from the standpoint of a born and raised, locally active, community caring Maplewoodian.

As a lifelong resident of Maplewood, having attended and graduated from Clinton School, South Orange Junior High School and Columbia High School, I have always been proud to be a native Maplewoodian. After attending American University and serving in the US Army in a variety of assignments, I have been fortunate enough to have gained career experiences ranging from teaching at Seton Hall University to a variety of entry level, Managerial and Executive positions in both Large and Small Business organizations.

I am married, with four children along with my wife who is also a native of the Maplewood/South Orange community. Each member of the family has gone through the Maplewood South Orange School System. Throughout my years as a resident of Maplewood,  I have remained active in community affairs having served on the Board of Directors of the Jersey Animal Coalition, a three time president of the Maplewood Glee Club, a volunteer for a variety of 4th of July committees, a former musical director for several Strollers’ productions,  a four time Commander of the Maplewood Memorial Post 10120 Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member of the American Legion, a member of the Maplewood/South Orange Elks, a former member of The Maplewood Rotary, a Member of the recently organized Service Organization Maplewood Project and most currently, responsible for the organization of Maplewood’s 2012 Annual Memorial Day Parade and Memorial Ceremony.

In addition, my wife Margaret “Willie” Gartenlaub is a licensed Real Estate Agent and she and I have been an established Musical Duo for many years, often known as Amazing Art & Wonderful Willie.

Art Gartenlaub

June 24, 1943 – July 8, 2018

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From the Jacob Holle Funeral Home website. Memorial service information pending:

Arthur Grant Gartenlaub of Brick, New Jersey formerly of Maplewood, New Jersey passed away at home on Sunday July 8, 2018 after a long fought battle with an illness.

Mr Gartenlaub was born in Staten Island, New York. He lived in Maplewood for 70 years before moving to Brick three years ago. Art was raised on Midland Boulevard and graduated Columbia High School in 1961. He attended American University and graduated from Georgetown University.

His first love was his music. Unfortunately, Art was fired by his Piano teacher at the age of 6, being told it was ” no use, he’d never be able to play an instrument”. He proceeded to teach himself how to read music, play guitar, keyboards and saxophone. Between his junior and senior year of college he travelled across the country where he met and played on an album for Johnny Cash in Nashville, Tenn., Mr Cash didn’t like the “ tone” of Arts guitar for his songs so he gave Art some money, sent him ” to the music store down the street” to pick the best guitar for the sound Mr. Cash wanted. Art did and when the recording was finished Mr.Cash gave him the Fender 12 String that he chose. That guitar still hangs on our wall today.

Art entered Fort Bragg, Army, 519 MI Battalion, 1963-1969 as a Green Beret and was sent to take instruction at the Monterey School of Languages in California where he received his Masters Degree by learning 8 languages in 9 months. (Not only did Art learn languages at this time, this is when he met up and coming folk singer Joan Baez at a sing along on the beach and she personally wrote a request to the language school to release him on weekends so he could accompany her on tour as her lead guitar player! )

At completion of language school Art was sent overseas, as Translator in/for Turkey and in was 1964 sent to Cambodia to communicate with the Nato Forces and as an active Green Beret, his tour ending in 1969. He received the Good Conduct Medal and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

Music was really his love. He played lead Saxophone in 1965 with the American pop group “the Viscounts.” The 1965 group remade one song, from the original Viscounts (1958) called Harlem Nocturne and they split up as the song climbed the charts. Yes, that is Art leading off with that sexy sax in the beginning! He then became a one man band. playing local rooms throughout NJ. In 1976 he formed a duo, known as “Amazing Art and Wonderful Willie.” Amazing Art and Wonderful Willie appeared together for the first time in January 1977 at Victors Restaurant (The Cellar Dwellers ) in South Orange, NJ. (It was in this room that his parents brought his first grade piano teacher yes, the one who fired him, to see what he had accomplished. She was shocked!)

Art and Willie were the first band to play at Cryan’s Beef and Ale, in South Orange NJ. when Cryan’s opened the newly finished big back room. They performed there from 1982 to 1984 and were called back by Jimmy Cryan to be the band to play at Cryan’s 30 year celebration in August 2012. JC saying it was only fitting that they were the band that started it all and they should be there for the celebration. What a night of memories and faces! Just like the “Old Days.”

For many years following, the duo worked in dinner and dance rooms throughout Essex, Union, Somerset and Morris counties. During the summers, they played the Jersey Shore, on the road to Texas and Indiana. Their music (as a 2-piece band would replace the previous 5/6 person band before them), jamming rooms with 200-250 people every weekend and were told by room owners that their reputation had become that of the highest paid and hardest working duo in the State of New Jersey. Playing music from 1900 to disco, you requested it they played it, you walked in the room, they automatically played your favorite song…. Never never was there a planned set…they let the room set the mood. Retiring in the late 80’s when the kids became too old for babysitters but too young to be left alone! Performing for special events as the years have passed. Again, Art, all self taught, became a professor of Computer Sciences at Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ from 1980-1983. He planned and established the first hands-on computer laboratory at SHU, putting computers on top of boxes as they arrived for lack of tables!

In 1984 and for the next 20 years, Art worked in the technology departments of AT&T, Lucent and Avaya. He could write computer programs, in any language faster than you could take a breath. “Downsizings” were big in those days. Art survived 20 downsizings, always another group grabbing him up as soon as he was available and in 1992 became salesman of the year.

A lifelong dream of Art’s was to have his own cafe. And so opened “Here’s Two the Arts”, a room for artsy crafty talented people to be highlighted every night, Located on Baker St. in Maplewood, it hosted Music nights, Open mike nights, Poetry nights, Comedy nights, Art work displayed by town folk, young people’s nights, parties, dancing,…… some incredible happenings occurred there.

Art is 6-year Post Commander of the Maplewood VFW Post 10120; Member and 6-year past President of the Maplewood Glee Club, creating and directing the Maplewood Doo Wop Association; Musical Director with the Maplewood Strollers and yes he even dared to run on the Republican ticket for the Township Committee in Maplewood; and for the past 8 or so years he has been working as Dog Trainer for Petsmart stores in Millburn, Livingston, Edison and of late Neptune, NJ . Every Petsmart employee knew who Art Gartenlaub was. His love, kindness, understanding and expertise with the Dogs and their owners was well recognized and acknowledged and rewarded by the company. He just had a natural talent for the puppies.
It would be amiss, if we didn’t mention his latest accomplishment and one other dream he had. He always wanted to go to school to become a Rabbi. For him it became a Rabbi of the Internet. He didn’t take it lightly. He studied and studied, practiced and practiced, had a mentor, performed Weddings and baby namings for couples who just adored him. His next wedding always came from someone sitting in the audience at the last one. It was a joy to watch him, and he was so happy doing it.

Art is survived by his beloved wife Margaret “Willie’, children Andrew and Lawrence and step children Matthew Joost and Patricia Stenzel, granddaughter Abigail Stenzel and sister Barbara Wolin.

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Clara Buccolieri Gianni — Great-grandmother and longtime Short Hills resident, 102

Clara Buccolieri Gianni, 102, died on July 13, 2018, at her residence in Short Hills, N.J.

Clara was born in Manduria, Italy, and lived in Short Hills for 55 years. She was a homemaker, active with the Maplewood Service League and the Short Hills Garden Club. She was also a member of the Maplewood Woman’s Club and the Overlook Medical Center Auxiliary Twigs No. 27. Clara was the beloved wife of the late Carroll V. Gianni, and the devoted mother of Keith B. Gianni, Charles M. Gianni and his late wife, Eleanor, and Richard F. Gianni and his wife, Dale. She is survived by 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass on Thursday, July 19, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 217 Prospect St., South Orange. Entombment is at Hollywood Memorial Park in Union, N.J. Visiting hours are on Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m., and Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home, 2122 Millburn Ave., Maplewood, N.J. 07040.

In lieu of flowers, donations made to Overlook Medical Center Development Foundation, 36 Upper Overlook Rd., P.O. Box 220, Summit, N.J. 07902, or St. Barnabas Hospital-Pediatric Fund,c/o Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gianni, 94 Old Short Hills Rd., Livingston, N.J. 07039, would be appreciated. For more information or to offer condolences, please visit jacobhollefuneralhome.com.

Photos courtesy of Claire Gianni Sinclair:

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The South Orange-owned, Maplewood-located field named for legendary soccer player and coach Gene Chyzowych has a new sign.

“Several signs later we hope this one will be around a very long time,” wrote Gene Chyzowych Jr. on Facebook. “Thank you to alumni, students, faculty, friends and family for your support. If anyone is near the area and has some landscaping suggestions for around the sign and entrance to the field please let me know.”

Gene Chyzowych, who created the Cougar Soccer Club with his brother Walter, coached the Columbia High School boys soccer team for 50 seasons before retiring in September 2013. He also coached CHS Girls Volleyball for 11 undefeated seasons.

Chyzowych passed away in May 2014 after a long battle with cancer. His obituary noted Chyzowych was an “engaging, dedicated and inspiring teacher and coach who devoted his life to every player and student he met.” Chyzowych’s impact on soccer reverberated well beyond Maplewood and South Orange as he worked to popularize the sport and help it reach new members of the public. (Read Chyzowych’s full obituary, first published May 12, 2014 in the Star-Ledger, below.)

With the new sign in place at the field — located at 29 W Parker Ave, Maplewood — Chyzowych Jr. is taking suggestions via Facebook for beautification. Suggestions thus far include ground-to-sign lighting, Belgian blocks and black river rock, sponsored brick pavers and plantings. Many encouraged Chyzowych Jr. to create a gofundme page. Village Green will update this story with a link should a fundraising page be created.

Related story:

Gene Chyzowych remembered as New Jersey soccer pioneer, NJ.com, May 12, 2014

Read Chyzowych’s obituary here:

Eugene Chyzowych, known by so many as “Coach C,” the engaging, dedicated and inspiring teacher and coach who devoted his life to every player and student he met, died Saturday, May 10, 2014, with his family at his side, following a long battle with cancer. Gene Chyzowych was 79. 

A resident of West Orange, N.J., Gene was a former professional soccer player, served as head coach of the U.S. Men’s Soccer National team and Olympic team, and was a long-time high school soccer coach with one of the top records in the country.

Gene was born on Jan. 27, 1935, in Ukraine, and fled from war-torn Europe to the United States with his parents and two brothers at the age of 13. 

A soccer player from the start, Gene became a standout at Philadelphia’s North Catholic High School and at Temple University, where he graduated in 1963. He went on to play professionally in the U.S. and Canada. He later coached in the American Professional Soccer League and served as U.S. National and Olympic team coach in 1973-1974. 

He also served as president of the American Soccer League.

During those early years of soccer in the United States, Gene, along with his late brother, Walter Chyzowych, helped shape the U.S. soccer program. 

Together, Gene and Walt started the All American Soccer Camp & Coaching School, one of the first such sport-specific camps in the U.S. in the early ’60s. His energy, enthusiasm, and love of soccer influenced tens of thousands of youngsters and aspiring coaches.

In 1963, Gene became a teacher and head boys soccer coach at Columbia High School in Maplewood, N.J., where he would go on to coach and teach thousands of students over the next 51 years. When Gene retired in 2013, he had amassed a record of 757 victories, which ranks third in the nation all-time high school win list.

He captured four New Jersey state championships, 24 conference titles, 16 state sectional crowns, and produced hundreds of All-Americans, All-State and All-Conference players in high school and college, many of whom have gone on to become college and high school soccer coaches. 

Gene also coached the Columbia girls volleyball team, compiling a 227-0 career record and an 11-year winning streak, likewise producing numerous championship and lauded athletes.

Among the countless awards and honors bestowed upon Gene, he was most proud of his 2009 induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, and being the 2014 recipient of the Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award.

He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 50 years, Anna; son, Eugene Jr.; son, Michael; daughter-in-law, Nicole; grandchildren, Thomas and Julia, and his brother, Ihor.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Barnabas Cancer Center/Oncology Services at Saint Barnabas Medical Center Foundation, 95 Old Short Hills Rd., West Orange, N.J. 07052, saintbarnabasfoundation.org.

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Family and friends of James (Jim) Michael Pickett will be celebrating his life on Saturday, August 11, at Christ Church (561 Springfield Ave., Summit, NJ). The service will begin at 3:00 p.m. All are invited.

Jim Pickett, entrepreneur, beverage industry pioneer and beloved husband of Heidi Hovland, and father to Lena (15) and Riordan (12), died Saturday, July 1, at St. Barnabas Medical Center, after suffering a massive stroke. He was 53.

Read Jim’s full obituary here.

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Ralph (Raffaele) Marano of Maplewood, N.J., passed away, surrounded by family, on Aug. 22, 2018. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m. at The Jacob Holle Funeral Home, 2122 Millburn Ave., Maplewood. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph’s Church, 767 Prospect St., Maplewood, Monday, Aug. 27, at 10 a.m. Entombment is at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Ralph was born in Pratola Serra, Italy, and moved to Maplewood when he was 26, where he had lived since. He worked as a foreman for New Jersey American Water Company (formerly Commonwealth Water Co.) in Short Hills, N.J., from 1955-1991. In addition, he also owned and operated his own landscaping company for 30 years, until he retired at the age of 86. Ralph loved to garden in his free time; it was his passion. He took pride in his abundant fruit trees and vegetables that he grew in his backyard. He had a love for gardening and every summer his family enjoyed the many “fruits” of his labor. He is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Rossana (Palombo), and his devoted children, Lucia (Bernard) Barone, Joann Cuccolo, Anne (Richard) DeSalvo, Mary Vayas and Lisa (Joseph) Scaff. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, as well as many family members in Italy.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the AV Hero Fund, avherofund.org, would be appreciated. For more information or to send condolences, please visit jacobhollefuneralhome.com.

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Jan Ellen Lewis, Maplewood resident and Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences – Newark (SASN) and Professor of History at Rutgers University—Newark, passed away on Tuesday, August 28, 2018, surrounded by her family and loved ones. She was 69.

Maplewood resident and former Columbia High School Principal Elizabeth Aaron shared this remembrance of Lewis with Village Green:

“She was a brilliant historian and a trailblazer for all in the field, but especially women as she shared wisdom from the ‘early’ years of doing what was then (and in the eyes of some, still, unfortunately ) finding and following the trails of stories that weren’t considered important and thus had not been told – especially those of women and families in early America. She was smart, funny, caring,  supportive, and deeply cared about good teaching and collaboration. She admitted me to the graduate program in history and always wanted to hear how I was using that work in high school history teaching.

“During my oral competency exam, one question from Jan was all it took to ease my nerves and start talking — and to keep talking. She led me to learning and opportunities for years after I completed my master’s degree and her work as a leader at Rutgers-Newark was exemplary and inspiring.”

News of Lewis’s passing was reported in a post on the Rutgers University-Newark website.

This testimonial came from Chancellor Nancy Cantor in a message to the RU-N community: “Jan was a brilliant historian who challenged orthodoxies about the fullness of our understanding of early America (and early American heroes), a teacher and mentor who supported her students through triumphs and challenges, a colleague who nurtured the next diverse generation of the professoriate, an academic leader who cultivated boundary-crossing scholars and scholarship across the full breadth of the arts, humanities, and sciences, and a friend whom you could always count on to tell it as it is, no sugar coating from Jan, even as she handed you the latest Donna Leon mystery to take your mind elsewhere, for a time.”

According to Rutgers-Newark, Lewis met her husband, Barry Bienstock, at RU-N where they were both teaching. They were married in 1989. Bienstock is the Martin Sokolow Chair in History at the Horace Mann School. Lewis lived in Maplewood, NJ and is survived by her husband, son James, daughter-in-law Aislinn, and grandchildren Beatrice, 5, and Ida, 1. She is also survived by a sister, Beth.

The Rutgers University Office of the Chancellor and the SASN Deans Office will host a celebration of Jan’s life on October 13, 2018 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Essex Room of the Paul Robeson Campus Center at RU-N, 350 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Newark, NJ.  All are invited to attend.

A scholarship fund to support undergraduate students at RU-N has been established in Jan’s name.  All those wishing to contribute may do so by check made out to the Rutgers University Foundation, and mailed to:

Patricia Margulies
Dean of Advancement
School of Arts and Sciences-Newark
360 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Newark, NJ 07102

Those wishing to make a credit card gift or any other type of contribution can call Ms. Margulies at: 973-353-1624.

Read the full remembrance of Lewis from RU-N here. 

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Maplewood artist Eric Beckerich passed away Friday at the age of 66 after a battle with cancer.

Eric was born on July 28, 1952, and grew up in the Bronx. He graduated from Memphis State University, where he received a B. F. A. in Painting and Sculpture. He lived in New York City and Hoboken for a number of years before moving to Maplewood with his family in 1997. He worked for many years as a designer, creating custom displays, exhibits and interiors and doing commissioned illustrations. A career change brought him into the construction industry as a project manager and, most recently, as a structural masonry inspector. He retired in 2015.

Eric returned to making art in 2007, an endeavor that brought him great joy. Working in mortar and mixed media, his work incorporated elements of architecture, painting, drawing and sculpture. He was a much-loved artist involved with 1978 Arts Center, Studio Montclair and Valley Arts. Eric’s large-scale sculpture, The Essex Column, is on permanent exhibit at the Wildflower Sculpture Park in South Mountain Reservation. Another large piece won First in Sculpture at a JCC Juried Show in Whippany. His work with mortar and found materials repurposed non-traditional elements and elevated them through the use of classic design strategies. Eric participated for many years in the Artist’s Studio Tour, and was a featured artist for Maplewood Library’s 2018 Ideas Festival.

Eric also loved playing and listening to music. He had a band that played in NYC in the 80s, and recently he played locally under the name Ronnie Beck. One of his greatest joys was playing his guitar and singing.

He also loved playing Scrabble, watching foreign films and vacationing on Long Beach Island with his wife Joanne. He was a lifelong Yankees fan, and thoroughly enjoyed reading Patrick O’Brian’s Auburey-Maturn novels, often sharing passages aloud.

Eric is survived by his wife Joanne (Gionti) and son Eric Jr. He is also survived by his siblings; his brothers David and Michael and his sister Wendy (Morrison).

He wanted everyone to know that he loved his life, his family and his friends. A visitation will be held at The Jacob Holle Funeral Home, 2122 Millburn Ave., Maplewood on Tuesday, October 2 from 5-8 pm, followed by a short service at 8:00 p.m.

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John Blaise Pogany, 62, co-owner of Bunny’s Sports Bar and a longtime South Orange resident, passed away on Saturday at home.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church (217 Prospect Street, South Orange) on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. In lieu of flowers, donations to Our Lady of Sorrows School, 172 Academy St., South Orange, NJ 07079 would be appreciated.

See the full obituary here.

Pogany was the co-owner, along with his wife of 40 years Leslie (“Bunny”), of Bunny’s Sports Bar in South Orange. Born in Budapest, Hungary, Pogany lived in South Orange since 1962. He graduated from Seton Hall University in 1978 with a B.A in Accounting and worked as a CPA for NJ Transit, Panasonic, and most recently for Hayward Industries in Elizabeth.

He is survived by his wife; his three children, Stephen, Noelle and Ryan; his three grandchildren, Alexa-Hortenzia, Ella and Liam Blaise Van Syke, and by his brother Anton and sisters Ildiko and Ursula.

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From CKO Kickboxing:

Today, December 16, at CKO Kickboxing Maplewood, the regular 11 a.m. class was replaced with the Sharon Geraghty 90-Minute Tribute.

It’s been one year since she left us. We miss her. We love her. We didn’t think we could go on without her. Over 50 people signed up to do some planks and hoot-‘n’-holler in her honor. (Anyone who took a Sharon class knows this would make her very proud.)

The class was 90 minutes long with nine CKO trainers kicking butt, showing off their best moves and raising funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital — Sharon’s charity of choice. We had a lot of fun too: DJ, giveaways, and a sampling of local treats. Bonji Bowls, soon to open in Maplewood Village, offered post-class treats for all.

The final trainer was a surprise for all. An audio recording of one of Sharon’s classes was played and everyone planked and cheered (and cried a little) as they finished up an amazing workout.

More than $1500 was raised (not counting donations made directly to St. Jude).

Related coverage:

A Letter for Sharon Duberman Geraghty: She Made a Difference

PHOTOS, VIDEO: ‘Flash Mob for Sharon’ Shows the South Orange-Maplewood Love

Photos courtesy of Claire Sinclair:

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From Finegan Funeral Homes:

Born to Bert and Irvine (Bosland) Boer on May 27, 1958, at Paterson General Hospital in Paterson, NJ, Susan Lee Boer was the third of four sisters: Sandy, Pat, and Dee.  Sue attended Hasbrouck Heights High School, William Paterson University, and received her Master’s degree from Kean University. She spent 30 years counseling and healing in positions at the Shire in Mendham, North Hunterdon-Voorhees School District in Hunterdon County, Columbia High School in South Orange-Maplewood, NJ, and most recently through her own private practice in Flemington. Left to honor Sue are her three children: Dylan, Cait, and Dakota, her husband Paul, her sisters and her mother, and her Neapolitan mastiffs.  She is also remembered by her four grandchildren: Ben, Pax, Harp, and Griff. After falling ill in autumn 2017, Sue was diagnosed with ALS. Sue chose to privately fight her illness and passed peacefully Saturday morning. Family, friends, and those whose lives were touched by Sue are invited to honor, remember, and love her on Thursday, December 20, 2018, at 5:00 pm at the Calvary Fellowship Church located on 191 County Road 627 Finesville, NJ. Those that are inclined to share thoughts, feelings, or memories are welcome to do so. Arrangements are through the Finegan Funeral Home. Visit www.fineganfh.com. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the ALS Association at www.alsa.org.

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Lee Leonard, the first voice ever heard on ESPN, died Sunday at his home in South Orange at the age of 89.

According to a report on ESPN.com, Leonard joined at the network’s inception in 1979, after a career in radio at WNBC-AM in New York, and TV jobs with CBS and NBC.

Leonard is survived by his wife, the actress Kelly Bishop, and a daughter.

According to an obituary in The New York Times, Leonard worked as a disc jockey, radio talk show host and co-host of “Sports Extra” on WNEW-TV in New York before joining the new ESPN — bringing “maturity” to the network. He later spent time at CNN and NBC Sports.

Here is an excerpt from the NYT article; read the full article here.

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Below are the obituaries run by Village Green in 2018. Read the stories. The lives are astonishing and recognizable, extraordinary and ordinary. They represent a centenarian, a broadcaster, a devoted gardner, a high school counselor, loving fathers, entrepreneurs, grandmoms, musicians, veterans, aviators, revolutionaries and keepers of the flame. All will be missed. All will be remembered.

Please contact us at villagegreennj@gmail.com if there is anyone we’ve missed.

• Lee Leonard, First Voice on ESPN, Dies at South Orange Home
• Susan Boer, 60, Former Columbia High School Counselor
• John Blaise Pogany, Co-Owner of Bunny’s in South Orange, Passes Away at 62 
• Eric Beckerich, 66, Much-Loved Maplewood Artist
• Jan Lewis, 69, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences – Rutgers Newark
• Ralph Marano, 91, Avid Gardner and Family Man
• Clara Buccolieri Gianni, 102
• Arthur Grant Gartenlaub
• Jim Pickett, 53, Beloved Husband, Father & Friend, Free Spirit, Entrepreneur
• Regina Dotson, Longtime South Orange Resident, Passes Away at 52
• South Orange’s David Schechner Passes Away at 89
• Weyman W. Watson, 61, Former Navy Airman and South Orange Elk
• Hal Braff, Formerly of Maplewood & South Orange
• Katherine Kalafut of Maplewood, Fashion Editor/Stylist
• Johann Jochnowitz, artist and professor, 45-year resident of South Orange
• Thomas Schilling, South Orange Firefighter & CHS Grad

The post In Memoriam: South Orange & Maplewood Neighbors We Lost in 2018 appeared first on The Village Green.

From The Jacob A. Holle & Preston Funeral Homes:

Cecilia K. Farley, 105, the oldest resident of Maplewood, NJ, passed away peacefully, at her home of 97 years, on January 8, 2018.  Born in Newark, NJ in 1913, Miss Farley was graduated from Newark Normal School, a teacher-education college, now Kean University, and taught for over 40 years at St. Joseph Catholic School in Maplewood, before retiring in 1982. She was the longest-standing, still active and honored member of St. Joseph parish, serving on the church’s first parish council, a charter member and past Grand Regent of Court of Patricia, Catholic Daughters of America, a Eucharistic Minister and member of St. Joe’s Rainbow Seniors. Cecilia was also active in the township, as an activities organizer with the Maplewood Seniors, assisting with local elections and serving for many years as an alternate to the Maplewood Library Board.

She is predeceased by her sister, Patricia Morris, and her brother, Dr. Eugene Farley, and is survived by her sister, Jane F. Kelley. “Aunt Ceal” had 13 nieces and nephews, and many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. She was widely traveled and an avid reader, an expert seamstress and an accomplished baker – famous for her cinnamon rolls.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 11th, from 4:00 PM-8:00 PM at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 767 Prospect Street, Maplewood, NJ. The Funeral Mass will also be held at St. Joseph on Saturday, January 12th at 10:00 AM, followed by interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Orange, NJ.  In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Joseph Church (Maintenance Fund) or a charity of your choice  would be appreciated. For more information or to send condolences please visit jacobhollefuneralhome.com.

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Flags were lowered to half-staff in South Orange on Tuesday, Feb. 5 in honor of LGBTQ activist Barbra Siperstein, who died on Feb. 3 at the age of 76.  “[Saying] Babs was a true friend to the South Orange community and ‘trailblazer’ is an understatement,” wrote South Orange Village President Sheena Collum on Facebook. “She will be missed but her memory will always live on.”

Among her accomplishments, Siperstein in 2009 became the first openly transgender person to serve as a member of the Democratic National Committee. And just last Friday, the Babs Siperstein Law took effect, after “10 years of work and overcoming two vetoes by former Gov. Chris Christie, the law makes it easier for transgender people to change the gender on their birth certificates to reflect the gender they live.”

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy tweeted that the half-staff honor would be extended throughout all of New Jersey on Feb. 6: “In honor of Barbra “Babs” Casbar Siperstein, a ferocious champion for the LGBTQ+ community, @GovMurphy has ordered that all U.S. and New Jersey flags be flown at half-staff at all state buildings and facilities tomorrow, February 6, 2019.”

In her Facebook post, Collum also included this remembrance of Siperstein written by South Orange Village Center Alliance Director Bob Zuckerman, a friend of Siperstein’s:

“Barbra (“Babs”) Siperstein, an army veteran, small business person and New Jersey native, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 3. Babs was known as one of New Jersey’s most prominent LGBTQ activists and was instrumental in securing protections for transgender people on both the state and federal level. She was a civil rights trailblazer who was relentless in her pursuit of seeking equal rights, not just for the LGBTQ community, but for everyone who is marginalized in society. Her namesake legislation, the Babs Siperstein Law, which requires the state issue amended birth certificates to transgender people in New Jersey, took effect on Feb. 1 after many years of Bab’s advocacy and determination to see it passed and signed into law. She was also the force behind New Jersey’s inclusive non-discrimination law that included protections for transgender New Jerseyans as well as for gays, lesbians and bisexuals. She graced us with her presence at the South Orange transgender flag raising ceremony in 2018, and she will be sorely missed by many of us.”

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The following is an email sent by CHS Interim Principal Dr. Kalisha Morgan on February 21:

It is with a great deal of sadness that I am informing you of the death of one of our beloved staff members.

One of our permanent substitute teachers and freshman basketball coach, Mr. Erskine Rowe, unexpectedly passed away.  The exact cause is unknown at this time.

His passing will affect the many staff members and students he worked with daily.  School Counselors are available for anyone, students and staff, wishing to talk about this tragic event.

We wanted all parents to be aware of the situation so that you can discuss this with your child. Please contact the school  if you feel that further follow-up with your child would be helpful.

Our thoughts and well-wishes go out to his family and friends.

Dr. Morgan

The post Columbia High School Basketball Coach, Erskine Rowe, Passes Away appeared first on The Village Green.

Johanna L. Giasullo, 74, of Florham Park, formerly of Maplewood, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her loving family and friends on March 5, 2019. Johanna worked side by side with her husband for many years at Beacon Jewelers in Maplewood.

Beloved wife of 53 years to Anthony N. Giasullo. Devoted mother of Diana Adams, her husband Bryan, Joanne Santangelo and her husband Michael.  Cherished grandmother of Brianna and Gianna Adams, Francesca, Anthony and Nicholas Santangelo. Dear sister of Louise Verona, John Verona, his wife Donna, Ann Marie Grimaldi and her husband Thomas. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Visitation at the Leonardis Memorial Home 210 Ridgedale Ave. Florham Park on Friday from 2-4 & 7-9pm.  Funeral on Saturday assembling at 8:30am followed by a mass at St. Pius X Church in Montville at 10am.  Entombment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.

In lieu of flowers:

The post Johanna Giasullo, Devoted Mother, Wife & Maplewood Business Owner, Age 74 appeared first on The Village Green.

The legacy of Bob Miller continues in lovely and unexpected ways. Case in point: This tribute to community, family, Bob — and Maplewood — from his sister Jenny Anderson:

“But after many nights in emergency rooms and too-long stays in hospitals, of watching my nieces slowly lose their father, I got a glimpse of what community looks like. It was the people who turned up before they were asked, to do things they didn’t have time to do. Neighbors who collected kids from school and came to hospitals to sit. Friends who stayed. Groups of people who materialized to make lunch for four kids for months because their parents couldn’t.

“This was community.”

In Anderson’s essay on Quartz (qz.com), “The only metric of success that really matters is the one we ignore,” she reveals painful details about Miller’s illness and how her brother’s life and death transformed how she evaluates success and lives her life. It’s difficult — and it would minimize Anderson’s message — to try to encapsulate the piece in a brief summary. Please read it in full.

Robert Jackson Miller III was the co-founder of Miller & Wright Architects, a New York City-based architecture firm. But more importantly, he was husband to Grace Mulvihill Miller and father to four beloved daughters — to whom he was utterly devoted. He died in March 2014 of complications related to melanoma. His life is celebrated annually in Maplewood through the Robert J. Miller Oysterfest for Melanoma Awareness.

Read Anderson’s essay, ” on Quartz here. It could change — and save — your life.

The post Bob Miller’s Legacy Continues in Essay by His Sister Extolling Community appeared first on The Village Green.

From Galante Funeral Home in Union:

Donald M. Salituri, 54, of Maplewood passed away on March 13, 2019.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a memorial visitation for Donald at the Galante Funeral Home, 2800 Morris Ave. Union on Saturday March 23, 2019 from 1-5 PM, with a funeral service being celebrated at 4:30 PM.

Born in Queens, NY, Donald lived in Maplewood for the past 23 years. He worked as an inspector for Con Edison in New York for 33 years.

Son of Patricia (Ness) Salituri and the late Donald Salituri, Donald was the beloved husband of Liz (Delmaestro) Salituri; loving father of Gianna and Bianca; dear brother of Denise Curran and Doreen Salituri; brother-in-law of Madeline and Steve, and was the loving uncle to Michelle and Allison Tugentman.

On its Facebook page, the South Mountain YMCA NJ posted:

It is with great sadness that we let our Y family know that one of our beloved Y alumni parents, Don Salituri, has passed away. Our hearts go out to his wife Liz and his two daughters, Bianca and Gianna.

In lieu of flowers, Liz has asked for donations to be placed in his name to the YMCA since the Y was such an important part of their lives when their children were young.

The post Donald Salituri, 54, of Maplewood, Loving Father and Husband appeared first on The Village Green.

A large scale wake and funeral will take place at Seton Hall University this Friday and Saturday, April 12th & 13th

Streets around Seton Hall University will see additional traffic Friday and Saturday, April 12 and 13, as the University hosts the wake and funeral of Mike Sheppard, Sr., a Seton Hall University student-athlete, coach and employee for more than 60 years, who died on Saturday, April 6, at age 82.

From the South Orange Police:

On Friday: Between 1pm and 8pm, expect traffic delays due to vehicles entering and exiting the campus. Likewise, an increased number of parked vehicles in the surrounding areas may occur.

Saturday: Funeral procession will depart campus shortly after 12pm. Vehicles will exit campus onto Ward Place, turning left onto South Orange Ave and traveling west until leaving So Orange.

Expect delays along this entire route until procession leaves town. Please plan accordingly and share to help spread the word.

Seton Hall University posted the following remembrance of Sheppard on its website:

After a brilliant life as both a family man and baseball legend, Mike Sheppard, Sr., a Seton Hall University student-athlete, coach and employee for more than 60 years, died on Saturday.  He was 82.

Sheppard was the patriarch of the “first family” of baseball in the State of New Jersey for well over a half-century.  Both he and his wife Phyllis, are members of the Seton Hall University Athletics Hall of Fame. All five of their children, Mike Jr., Susan, Kathleen, John, and Rob are Seton Hall graduates with Sheppard’s three sons and son-in-law all being Seton Hall baseball standouts. His oldest son, Mike, a Hall of Famer, is currently the head coach at Seton Hall Prep, his second son, John, is the head coach at Morristown-Beard High School, while his youngest son Rob, is the head coach at Seton Hall University.

His son-in-law, Ed Blankmeyer, was a student-athlete and assistant coach at Seton Hall and is currently the long-time head coach at St. John’s University.

The visitation will be held on Friday, April 12 from 2-7 p.m., in Walsh Gymnasium (400 South Orange Avenue, South Orange, NJ 07079). The funeral mass will be held on Saturday, April 13 at 10 a.m., in Walsh Gymnasium followed by the entombment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to both Seton Hall University and Seton Hall Prep School baseball programs.

“On behalf of Seton Hall Athletics, I extend my deepest condolences to Phyllis, Rob and the entire Sheppard family,” said Seton Hall Vice President & Director of Athletics Pat Lyons. “Mike Sheppard will forever be synonymous with Seton Hall Baseball, and the impact he had here for over 60 years is indelible. While we mourn his passing today, his spirit will always remain with us and lives on through the lives of the hundreds of student-athletes he coached and mentored. Coach Sheppard always said to never lose your hustle, and it’s assured that Seton Hall never will.”

For 31 years, Sheppard served as the University’s head coach, 1973-2003, recording 28 winning seasons and 27 postseason berths, highlighted by 15 BIG EAST Tournament appearances. He was named the BIG EAST Coach of the Year three times (1985, 1987, and 1989), and guided the Pirates to the conference tournament title in 1987. Sheppard’s squads reached the NCAA Tournament 12 times, and he led Seton Hall to appearances in the College World Series in 1974 and 1975.

Under Sheppard’s tutelage, the Pirates won 20 or more games 30 times, 30 or more games 22 times, and 40 or more games five times.  He holds a career record of 998-540-11 and ranks in the top 75 on the list of NCAA’s all-time winningest coaches (by victories).

During his tenure, more than 80 Seton Hall players have gone on to sign professional contracts, with 30 of them moving on to play in the major leagues. He coached eight MLB first-round picks, including MLB Hall of Fame inductee Craig Biggio and stars Rick Cerone, Jason Grilli, Matt Morris, Mo Vaughn and John Valentin.

In 1989, Sheppard was honored as a “Giant Steps” Award winner by the Northeastern University Center for the Study of Sports Society. In addition to being inducted into the Seton Hall University Hall of Fame in 1996, and having his jersey number 17 retired on April 25, 2004, he earned the McQuaid Medal in 1990 which is given for 20 years of academic and athletic service to the Seton Hall community.  Finally, Sheppard was inducted into the Newark Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988 and the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on January 7, 2011.

As a player, Sheppard was a catcher for Owen T. Carroll’s teams in the late 1950s.

Even after ceding head coaching duties to his son Rob, Sheppard remained a positive presence around the program as Head Coach Emeritus, and continued his duties as the Chairman of Essex County American Legion Baseball, a post held since 1983.  Every year since stepping down, you could still find him in the middle of the annual team photos, including those shot this winter for the 2019 team.

Sheppard’s reach was ever-present even beyond the sport of baseball.  In 2012, the City of Newark and Seton Hall decided to rename the University’s softball field, the Essex County Mike Sheppard, Sr. Softball Field.

Sheppard’s interest was to not only make better baseball players, but better people after four years of study and instruction at Seton Hall.  His mantra, “Never Lose Your Hustle,” has been repeated and used as a lesson for life, not just a baseball practice.  This culture, fostered and matured since Sheppard took over the program in 1973, continues to this day under his son.

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